Snot & Fluff - A Space Adventure

July 11, 2016

"On a distant planet, in a small cottage, lived two friends - the ever sniffing Snot and his hairy buddy, Fluff," begins this adorable book from OhNoo Studio. Tap the arrow to turn the page and two large arms grab the screen to move you to the next scene. What follows is a fun-for-all-ages app with instant appeal. It features a hunt for hidden stars, a key and other interactions that will rivet young viewers. It also has a deeply satisfying ending that reminds youngsters that "everything is much more fun when you have somebody to share it with." This lesson transfers well to playing with the app. While it's delightful played alone, it's even better shared.

Snot & Fluff - A Space Adventure is a hit from the talented team that brought us Amelia and Terror of the Night, which wowed our reviewers from the minute we began the app, back in 2012. This new offering is even more engaging and well-designed. Children are likely to disappear with your tablet, the minute you show it to them, although adults will want to follow along with rapt attention. In addition to a well-written plot, Snot & Fluff is full of hidden games and other digital treats. But what really stands out to us (after reviewing over 1000 digital books in the past 6 years) is something brilliant this book does - it keeps attention on the storyline while also building in game elements. They also use motion to let the reader explore the edges of every page without ever distracting from the charming story of two caring friends on a space adventure. I can even imagine this book in print, with it's 'lift the flap' additions that bring something fun and innovative to every other page.

How does this app balance its immersive interactivity with the narrative? It's so simple it's brilliant and I wish I'd thought of this myself. The story pauses a bit on alternating pages, featuring just a couple of sentences. On these intervening pages the app presents all of the interactive elements, namely a hunt for hidden stars. The stars (88 in all, which if found unlock a secret page) are easily tracked by a star grid on the side of the page, so children know when to search and when to stop. Every other page in between the star hunting includes only light animation that focuses the reader's attention squarely on the story itself. Children will quickly adapt to this consistent rhythm of alternating story and play in a way that immerses them in both seamlessly. It's something I've never seen done so beautifully in any other app.

While the design of this app impressed me most, there is much more to love about Snot & Fluff. It has gorgeous illustrations, full of quirky details that require many re-reads to fully appreciate. The story itself is quirky too, with characters that are imaginative and endearing at the same time. And who doesn't love a science fiction adventure? From riding in a rocket ship (beware of the cat that smashes into the windshield) to exploring an underwater scene for an important key, this tale is full of mystery and enchantment. It may take a couple reads to fully appreciate the nuances of the storyline, but the way they've sandwiched the interactivity makes following the plot much easier for distractable young readers.

The star-hunt is also not just randomly placed stars but feels creative and innovative, like many popular hidden puzzle games. The challenge level is exceptional, featuring just enough difficulty in finding the stars to engage older readers. Children 6 and under may need to co-play with an older child or adult to find them all. The app therefore also plays much longer than a typical book app, with 60-90 minutes to read a little over 20 screens of content.

If you're looking for an app that will keep a 7-10+ year old busy and engaged, this one is sure to please! Exceptional production values define this app, featuring the kind of animation and interactivity that is competitive with the most popular games out today. The sheer amount of interactivity, with all the built-in games, makes this title unsuitable for bedtime reading, however. The app is solidly made, with intuitive settings that include a page guide and easy audio controls. There are also links to social media pages and the appstore, but all are under a 'parental gate' that requires basic addition to unlock.

Overall, this is a delightful storybook app for entertaining children and adults. It surpasses this team's previous storybook app (which was truly innovative) by leaps and bounds. If your child enjoys hidden puzzle games, exploring the galaxy (and strange planetary experiences), wait no longer. This app is truly a must-download for the digital generation!

Highly Recommended!

Includes English, Spanish, Chinese, Russian & Polish versions.

This app has been thoroughly evaluated by our staff. Please click on the 'star ratings' tab above, to see how it fared in all nine of our rating categories. See synopsis tab for more details about the storyline.

Note to readers: This review was expedited by the developer for a fee. The content of the rating/review is the same, but timing of publication has been prioritized.

All reviews are of the app, not the platform/device. Based originally on iPad versions. Minor technical details may vary.

Story Synopsis - Snot & Fluff - A Space Adventure

An interactive story for children with features of an adventure game.

“Mum, Dad, can I watch a movie?” - how often do we hear these requests. This is where “Snot and Fluff - a Space Adventure” will speed to the rescue. This is an interactive story with features of an adventure game for children aged 4 to 10.

This is a funny and educational story of friendship, courage and helping others. It will take your child and yourself on an amazing journey to distant galaxies full of colourful planets. You will meet various creatures, strange animals and together you will experience an unforgettable adventure.

The game DOES NOT include any advertisements, references to Internet websites or micro-payments! Your child may safely use it on a tablet or phone.

You will meet two friends: Snot and Fluff. The former is a traveller, an adventurous globetrotter, whereas the latter is quite the opposite - a home-loving amateur baker of new types of cookies. One day, Snot feels bored with everyday tasks and sets out on a space journey, forgetting about his friend for a while. Fluffy, lonely and longing for the company of his buddy, builds a rocket and embarks on a journey to look for Snot. Will he manage to find him?

Key features:• This is a story created by the authors of an interactive tale which gained global recognition: “Amelia and Terror of the Night” and illustrated by Agata Karelus, a renowned artist loved by children• Hundreds of cartoon animals, monsters and weird objects• 45 boards with hand-drawn illustrations• Professional narrator reading the story• More than 35 minutes of professional soundtrack• More than 400 funny sounds• 88 hidden stars to be discovered• A secret room at the end of the story• 3D effect while tilting the tablet/phone• A perfect story for children aged 4–10, both for boys and girls• A story with a moral• It can be read as a bedtime story• Easy, intuitive navigation• Page index, which makes it possible to gain easy access to any board in the story• 5 language versions: English, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Chinese

Furthermore:• Together find a key to the pirates’ secret box• Sit behind the steering wheel of a space rocket• Solve the mystery of the electric cave• Visit an alien spaceship• Help the Crescent King solve his embarrassing problem• Meet princess Candy• See what the Moon looks like on the inside

From OhNoo Studio, Amelia and Terror of the Night is one of the most animated and interactive apps I have seen this year. It definitely will 'Wow' you the minute you begin the app and children are likely to …